Breaking Herbalife News: NOT Found To Be Pyramid Scheme!

Herbalife Will Restructure Its Multi-level Marketing Operations

Multi-level marketer Herbalife will pay $200 million back to people who were taken in by what the FTC alleges were misleading moneymaking claims. But when it comes to protecting consumers, that may not be the most important part of the just-announced settlement. What could matter more than $200 million? An order that requires Herbalife to restructure its business from top to bottom – and to start complying with the law.

“This settlement will require Herbalife to fundamentally restructure its business so that participants are rewarded for what they sell, not how many people they recruit,” FTC Chairwoman Ramirez said. “Herbalife is going to have to start operating legitimately, making only truthful claims about how much money its members are likely to make, and it will have to compensate consumers for the losses they have suffered as a result of what we charge are unfair and deceptive practices.”

For example:

The company will now differentiate between participants who join simply to buy products at a discount and those who join the business opportunity. “Discount buyers” will not be eligible to sell product or earn rewards.

Multi-level compensation that business opportunity participants earn will be driven by retail sales. At least two-thirds of rewards paid by Herbalife to distributors must be based on retail sales of Herbalife products that are tracked and verified. No more than one-third of rewards can be based on other distributors’ limited personal consumption.

Companywide, in order to pay compensation to distributors at current levels, at least 80 percent of Herbalife’s product sales must be comprised of sales to legitimate end-users. Otherwise, rewards to distributors must be reduced.

Herbalife is prohibited from allowing participants to incur the expenses associated with leasing or purchasing premises for “Nutrition Clubs” or other business locations before completing their first year as a distributor and completing a business training program.

Herbalife Ltd (HLF.N) agreed to a $200 million settlement with U.S. regulators on Friday, under which the dietary supplements maker will change the way it does business and avoid being labeled a pyramid scheme, a blow to hedge fund manager Bill Ackman who for years has been betting against the company.

The Los Angeles-based company’s shares jumped 14.5 percent in early trading on Friday, after the settlement was made public and the company said its board had cleared the way for billionaire investor Carl Icahn to boost his stake in the company to up to 35 percent from his current 18.3 percent.

The FTC said Friday’s settlement represented a fundamental change in how the company operates, as it will require rewards to distributors to be based on retail sales rather than recruiting new distributors.

Herbalife, however, said that the terms of the agreement does not change its business model.

Read The Full Article Here!

Herbalife Responds To FTC Settlement!

HERBALIFE AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION REACH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Settlement Does Not Change Herbalife’s Business Model as a Direct Selling Company

Herbalife Board of Directors Frees Carl Icahn to
Acquire Up to 34.99% of the Company’s Outstanding Common Shares

LOS ANGELES – July 15, 2016 – Global nutrition company Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) (“Herbalife” or “the Company”) announced it has reached a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or the “Commission”) resolving the FTC’s multi-year investigation of the Company. The terms of the settlement do not change Herbalife’s business model as a direct selling company and set new standards for the industry. With the settlement agreement announced today, the FTC’s investigation of Herbalife is complete.

Herbalife and the Illinois Attorney General also reached a settlement, and the Company agreed to pay $3 million as part of this separate agreement. With the conclusion of the Illinois investigation, the Company is not aware of any active investigations by any other state attorney general.

“The settlements are an acknowledgment that our business model is sound and underscore our confidence in our ability to move forward successfully, otherwise we would not have agreed to the terms,” stated Michael O. Johnson, chairman and CEO, Herbalife.

The terms of the settlement apply only to the Company’s sales in the U.S., which comprise approximately 20% of total net sales. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to new procedures and

enhancements to some policies that already exist. Many of the terms agreed to were either already being contemplated by the Company or are extensions of practices already in place and will be implemented over the next 10 months. The two primary components of the agreement are:

Those who currently have a membership with Herbalife, and those coming into the business, will be categorized as either a preferred member (those who become a preferred member to purchase products at a discount) or distributor (those who choose to build a business and sell products through direct sales). This will allow Herbalife to better track both groups and provide a personalized experience for these individuals.

Distributors will be compensated based upon retail sales and will provide receipts for their transactions. Their compensation will also be based on purchase for personal consumption within allowable limits. Herbalife’s independent distributors are currently required to keep sales transaction receipts. With advancements in mobile technology, tracking retail sales is now even easier, and the Company has already developed proprietary technological solutions including a mobile application in the U.S. to make the process as efficient and easy as possible.

Other terms agreed to include enhancing training provided to distributors; requiring a business plan and a one-year waiting period before opening a nutrition club; extending the amount of time a distributor may return an initial membership pack; paying for all shipping costs associated with any returned products; prohibiting auto-shipment of products; auditing by an independent third party; and extending the protections on income claims including greater specificity around lifestyle claims.

Troy Dooly is recognized internationally as an influencer in the areas of personal branding, leadership development, marketing campaigns, organizational expansion, and corporate launch strategies. Dooly is a speaker, results coach, and radio host. He is a founding member, show host (Beachside CEO) and News Director of the Home Business Radio Network. He is a founding member, and currently serves on the Board of the Association of Network Marketing Professionals

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